Apple Cider Vinegar Tea and Cumin Soy Biscuits

The unstable rise and drop(80F a day and 50F the next!) in spring temperatures can leave some of us miserably sick.Your truly was brought down by a bad episode of aching itchy soar throat followed by exasperating cough,not to mention the fatigue.Thankfully the relief came without visiting the doctor,through some simple home remedies.But beware if the throat ache or persistent cough does not subside in 3-4 days of home treatment or accompanies fever,be sure to get doctor's advice first.Normally the doctor would give antibiotic for bacterial infection but not for the viral,either of the cases,the home remedies can be put to test.There are many to try,but these two in particular are safe and work effectively for me.
1.Herbal teas (like the Ginger honey , Orange spice and Apple cider vinegar,recipe below),a cup every 3-4 hours.Slurping warm soups also is relieving.
2.Vitamin C and zinc lozenges or simply fresh berries or fresh fruits, helps boost immunity.



Apple Cider Vinegar Tea

Apple cider vinegar is a powerful detoxifying and purifying agent made from fermentation of apple cider,contains a potent supply of potassium which can helpful in easing the effects of colds,sore throats and allergies.Cider vinegar is available in most health food and super stores.

Ingredients
2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon honey
1 cup apple cider

Method
Add the apple cider and apple cider vinegar in a mug,stir in the honey until completely dissolved.Slowly sip away to relaxation.

The tea is tried and tested home remedy for sore throat and is now off to Home remedies 3,hosted this month by Jagruti of Joy of Cooking.



Cumin Soy Biscuits


Along with the soothing tea,a light nourishing snack, with touch of spices,contributed to healing the ailment.The cumin spice is good source of iron,know to strengthen immunity and aid digestion.The soy flour with richness of disease fighting isoflavones,nourishes the biscuits with pleasant moist texture.




Recipe
Ingredients
Makes about 8-10 biscuits
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
1/2 cup organic soy flour
1 cup fine ground whole wheat flour
1 and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup apple or orange juice
2 tablespoon agave syrup or honey
2 tablespoon canola oil
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in center. In a medium bowl, sift together flours, baking powder,cumin seeds and salt. Add the oil and combine.Stir in enough apple juice to form dough firm enough to roll.
Cover and let the dough rest for 10 minutes.Divide in 2 portions.Sprinkle some all purpose flour on the work surface.Roll out one portion of the dough using a rolling pin,about 1/4 inch thick.Cut using a 3 inch cookie cutter.Lay on a parchment-lined baking sheet; spacing 2 inches apart.Finish making the biscuits with rest of the dough. Bake until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Serve warm with tea.



I'm sending the biscuits over to Priya's Cooking with seeds Event ,the seeds in spotlight this month are Cumin

Viewer question
What remedy works best for your sore throat ?

Mamoul cookies and Cinnamon Tea

The melt-in-the-mouth delicious mamoul cookies are one of the most popular middle eastern cookie.I used to buy a box every time I shopped at the middle store ,besides dates these are available in variety of fillings with fruits and nuts.But when yours truly turned a health nut and started scrutinizing the processed foods nutrition labels,the mamoul were sadly out listed from my choice of cookies.Until I found Kate's recipe, simple enough to bake some of my own with desired amount of fat and sugar.Amazingly the recipe worked quite well even after reducing sugar and fat quantities ,and the Orange blossom water used imparts the lovely fragrance and hint of refreshing flavor.Traditionally wooden molds are used to shape the cookies,in her recipe kate shows a very easy method to make mamoul without the molds.Thanks to Kate,I can enjoy these delectable cookies again without guilt.

Makes about 12 cookies (3-inch long-oval cookies)
Ingredients:
1 cup fine semolina(sooji rava)
1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 tablespoon melted butter or ghee
2 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoon Orange blossom water or rose water
1/2 cup reduced fat Milk(a little more if needed)
1/4 teaspoon powdered anise or ground anise seed(optional)
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt

For filling
1 cup(4 ounce) about 6-8 dates,pitted and pressed to make a paste
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
For rolling
1/4 cup Walnuts or pistachios,chopped

Method
In a large bowl combine all the dry ingredients.Mix butter\ghee ,sugar,orange blossom water and milk in another bowl. Gradually add this in to the flour mixture,knead the dough until evenly mixed.The dough should be smooth and moist,add little more milk if needed.Cover and let rest for one hour.
Prepare the filling by combining the pressed dates and cinnamon .make 2 inch long rolls of the mixture and Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Make walnut-sized balls of the dough. Press down each of the balls using a thumb to form a cup to place the filling.place the date roll.Close the open end and roll between the palms to form a cylindrical shape.Place on a baking sheet and finish making the rest.
Bake for 18-20 minutes or until bottom is lightly brown. Completely cool on a rack.Store in an air tight container.Tastes best if consumed within 4-5 days since its low in fat and could dry out sooner.
These Mamoul cookies are off to Srivalli's Mithai Mela and Ria's Let's Celebrate.My Sweet Potato chocolate Bundt cake and Nutella cake are also joining in Ria's Celebration.

Nutrition and Calories
Nutrition is in the core with mineral rich dates,also a good source of fiber and vitamins.The crust is pretty much all carbs.The fat calories are reduced to about 2 grams per cookie ,compared to about 9 grams in the original recipe.

Cinnamon Tea

The flavor of light Cinnamon Tea complements really well with mamoul.
Ingredients
3 cups water
1 teaspoon herbal tea mix or tea powder
2 cinnamon sticks(use ceylon variety)
1 teaspoon sugar

Method
Brew all the ingredients for about 15 minutes ;strain and serve hot.

Click - Cookies

This cookie Cookie click is my entry for Click Photography event at Jugalbandi,Cookies are the theme of this month.

Fennel Tea(Saunf Chai)

Fennel seeds are known to aid digestion.It not uncommon to be served with these aromatic seeds at the end of a masala(Spicy) Indian meal.Although this excellent mouth refresher can simply be chewed to get the most of its benefits ;its freshening taste can also be used to make fennel tea,which is soothing for sore throats and also relieves any discomfort from bloating or indigestion.Read more of it benefits here.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon Fennel seeds
1 teaspoon dried peppermint leaves or 6-8 fresh peppermint leaves[or use a teaspoon of green tea leaves or black tea powder]
1 teaspoon honey
2 cups of water

Method
Bring water to a slow boil and add the fennel seeds and pepper mint leaves .Brew for about 10 minutes on medium-low heat,strain ,mix in honey and serve hot or warm.

For more refreshing fennel seeds recipes join in Think spice...Think fennel seeds at Ivy's Kopiaste...to Greek Hospitality.The Think Spice... food event was started by Sunita's world.

An Interesting Health benefit of Fennel Seeds
Blogger friend Sangeeta reminds us that diuretic properties of fennel seeds are effective in curing Urinary tract Infections cause due to a bacteria called E-coli.Read more here and here.thanks sangeeta:)

Ginger Honey Tea

Ginger is one of the nature's best food.Always use fresh ginger for most nutritional benefits .Learn about how to keep your ginger fresh. Ginger tea with honey is an effective common remedy for colds and flu. Sipping warm ginger tea can soothe sore throats ,boost ones immunity and also helps in relieving nausea associated with pregnancy.
Ingredients
Fresh ginger ,about 2 inches,roughly chopped
2 cloves
1 teaspoon pure honey
2 cup of water

Method
Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan,add the ginger and cloves;let simmer for about 15-10 minutes.Strain and mix in the honey and sip when slightly cooled.

This soothing ginger honey tea is off to Weekend Herb Blogging ,hosting the event this week is Ivy of Kopiaste

Watermelon Ginger Ale is another refreshing drink with fresh ginger,as melons are not in season you can use grapes instead .

Got Sore throat ?Sip a herbal tea ,Orange Spice Herbal tea

To soothe my achy sore throat and calm the annoying cough from past few days,I've been sipping flavored herbal teas;Orange and Lemon are my personal favorites.I believe the best remedy for a common cold or cough is drinking more fluids;soups and herbal tea for instance. The following is a recipe of Orange spice herbal tea,which is light,may be not be very effective for a persistent cough.Hopefully I'll post a stronger herbal tea with fresh ginger in my next post.

(the same recipes works with lime and lemon peel.If you can't find the orange flavored tea bags,use any caffeine free herbal tea bags)
Ingredients
Caffeine free Herbal tea bags with Orange flavor,2
(Ingredients in the tea bag:dry orange peel,hibiscus flowers,cinnamon,roasted chicory root,cloves and licorice root)
Fresh orange peel ,about 4 inches[careful peel just the orange part,any white pith can make the tea bitter)
3-4 cloves
1 cinnamon stick.
2 cup of water

makes 2 cups
Method
Brew all the ingredients for about 10 minutes ;strain and sip away to relaxation.Drink a cup every 3-4 hours.

Snuggle up and Keep warm! Winter is here!